Vehicle window assembly with louvered window

ABSTRACT

A method for forming a vehicular window assembly includes providing a plurality of window panels and arranging the window panels relative to one another with adjacent edge portions of adjacent window panels being non-coplanar. Adjacent edge portions of the adjacent window panels are fixedly joined via a joining element at the adjacent edge portions of the adjacent window panels. The joining element may be at least partially overmolded and fixedly joined at the adjacent edge portions of the adjacent window panels. The vehicular window assembly may comprise a vehicular side window assembly configured to mount at a side portion of a vehicle.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 15/354,005, filed Nov. 17, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,807,445,which claims priority of U.S. provisional application Ser. No.62/258,720, filed Nov. 23, 2015, which is hereby incorporated herein byreference in its entirety. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/354,005is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/107,623, filed Dec. 16, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,434,844, whichclaims the filing benefits of U.S. provisional applications, Ser. No.61/839,583, filed Jun. 26, 2013, and Ser. No. 61/738,095, filed Dec. 17,2012, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to window assemblies for vehicles and,more particularly to a side or rear fixed window assembly for a vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known to provide a window assembly for an opening of a vehicle,such as a side window assembly for a side opening of a vehicle.Conventional side openings of sports cars or the like may have a louversor spaced apart body panels established at the vehicle body and outsideof a fixed window panel, with the louvered panels comprising an opaquemetal or plastic.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a vehicle louvered window assembly thatcomprises a plurality of glass panels that encapsulated or partiallyencapsulated along their peripheries with adjacent perimeter edgeregions joined together by respective encapsulation portions or ribs.The glass panels are preferably louvered or offset or non-coplanar attheir adjacent perimeter edges and held in such a configuration via thepartial encapsulation of the perimeter edge portions or regions ofadjacent panels.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a window assembly for avehicle comprises a plurality of window panels arranged with at leastone pair of adjacent window panels, with adjacent edge portions ofadjacent ones of the window panels being joined by a respective moldedjoining element. The adjacent edge portions joined by a respectivemolded joining element are offset or non-coplanar.

The window panels may comprise glass window panels, and the windowassembly may comprise a side or rear or top window of a vehicle. Themolded joining element may comprise an encapsulation that at leastpartially receives a perimeter edge portion of at least one of theadjacent window panels.

For example, the adjacent window panels may comprise first and secondwindow panels for a side window assembly of a vehicle, with the secondwindow panel disposed rearward of the first window panel. The moldedjoining element partially receives a rear perimeter edge portion of thefirst window panel and does not overlap an outer surface of the firstwindow panel, and the molded joining element at least partially receivesa front perimeter edge portion of the second window panel. An outersurface of the first window panel at or near the rear perimeter edgeportion is non-coplanar with an outer surface of the second window panelat or near the front perimeter edge portion.

Optionally, the first and second window panels may be formed or cut toany desired shape and may be offset and/or overlapped to provide anydesired pattern for the two-panel window assembly. The forming andarrangement of the offset/overlapping window panels may be selecteddepending on the particular application of the window assembly and theexterior vehicle design. Optionally, the molded joining element may becolored or patterned to provide an enhanced appearance of the windowassembly, such as colored to match or coordinate with a color scheme ofthe particular vehicle application of the window assembly.

These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of thepresent invention will become apparent upon review of the followingspecification in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle having a window assembly inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of a vehicular window assembly of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the glass panels of the vehicular windowassembly of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the vehicular window assembly taken alongthe line A-A in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the glass panels of FIG. 3, shown withoutthe encapsulations or ribs;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the vehicular window assembly taken alongthe line B-B in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another vehicular window assembly of thepresent invention, with an opaque film established at a window panel ofthe window assembly;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the window assembly of FIG. 7, showing thefilm at the window panel and between the encapsulation and the windowpanel;

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the window assembly of FIG. 7;

FIGS. 10-19 are perspective views of other louvered or multi-paneencapsulated window assemblies of the present invention; and

FIGS. 20-22 are perspective views of a rear backlite assembly and sidewindow assembly of a vehicle in accordance with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings and the illustrative embodiments depictedtherein, a window assembly 10 of a vehicle 12 comprises a plurality ofglass window panels 14, 16, 18 that are louvered or non-coplanar. Theglass window panels 14, 16, 18 are disposed at a perimeter frame orencapsulation 20 and have an encapsulation portion or rib 22 at andbetween and adjoining panels 14 and 16 and an encapsulation portion orrib 24 at and between and adjoining panels 16 and 18. The windowassembly 10 provides a louvered window assembly that is suitable for useas a side window or rear window of a sports car or the like (such as asmall fixed side rear window of a vehicle or a rear window of ahatchback vehicle or the like). The louvered window assembly provides aplurality of separated and louvered transparent window panels (andoptionally the window panels may be tinted or darkened or otherwise madeless light transmitting or even substantially non-light transmitting,depending on the particular application of the window assembly), withthe separate window panels being joined together via encapsulationportions or ribs and a peripheral encapsulation, such that the separatewindow panels are joined or fixed relative to one another and do notmove or open or pivot or slide relative to one another.

As best seen with reference to FIGS. 2-5, the window panels 14, 16, 18are louvered or non-coplanar. For example, and as shown in FIGS. 4 and5, a rearward perimeter portion 14 b of forwardmost window panel 14 isoutboard of a forward perimeter portion 16 a of middle window panel 16,while a rearward perimeter portion 16 b of middle window panel 16 isoutboard of a forward perimeter portion 18 a of rearwardmost windowpanel 18. The adjoining or adjacent perimeter edges 14 b, 16 a and 16 b,18 a are joined via the respective encapsulation portion or rib 22, 24.In the illustrated embodiment, and as best shown in FIG. 4,encapsulation 22 at least partially receives rear perimeter edge 14 btherein and at least partially receives front perimeter edge 16 a, whileencapsulation 24 at least partially receives rear perimeter edge 16 btherein and at least partially receives front perimeter edge 18 a. Theencapsulations 22, 24 are disposed at the rearward perimeter edges 14 b,16 b, respectively, so that the encapsulation does not encompass theouter surface 14 c, 16 c of the window panel, such that theencapsulation 22, 24 may provide a generally flush configuration at theouter surface 14 c, 16 c of the respective window panel 14, 16 (with anouter surface of the encapsulation 22 being generally coplanar with theouter surface of the window panel 14 and an outer surface 14 c of theencapsulation 24 being generally coplanar with the outer surface 16 c ofthe window panel 16). The encapsulation may be overmolded onto theperimeter edge portions of the glass panels or otherwise bonded at theperimeter edge portions of the glass panels. The encapsulation, whenovermolded or bonded at the perimeter edge portions of the adjacentpanels, is fixedly attached at the perimeter edge portions such that thepanels do not move (such as open or pivot or slide) relative to theencapsulation and/or the other adjacent panel or panels.

Optionally, an outer frame or encapsulation 20 may be provided about andalong the outer perimeters of the glass panels. As shown in FIG. 2, theframe 20 may include a forward frame portion 20 a that is disposed atthe forward perimeter edge region 14 a of forward window panel 14 and aperimeter molding or frame portion 20 b that is disposed at the upperand lower perimeter edge regions or portions of the window panels and atthe rear perimeter edge region or portion 18 b of rear window panel 18,whereby the forward frame portion 20 a and the perimeter frame portion20 b substantially circumscribe the window panels. As shown in FIG. 4,the forward frame portion 20 a may be molded or established at the innersurface 14 d of the forward window panel 14 and may at least partiallyreceive the forward perimeter edge 14 a therein (and may not overlap theouter surface 14 c of the window panel 14 so as to provide a generallyflush configuration of the frame portion at the outer surface of thewindow panel).

The perimeter frame portion 20 b, and such as shown in FIG. 6, may alsobe molded or established at the inner surfaces (inner surface 14 d offorward window panel 14 is shown in FIG. 6, but the frame would beestablished at the inner surfaces 16 d, 18 d of the other window panels16, 18 in a similar manner) and may at least partially receive theperimeter edges therein (and may not overlap the outer surfaces of thewindow panels so as to provide a generally flush configuration of theframe portion at the outer surfaces of the window panels). The perimeterframe portion 20 b may include a flange or seal 20 c that extends orprotrudes outwardly around the window panel, such as for mounting and/orsealing the window assembly 10 at the body of the vehicle.

The encapsulations or frame portions may comprise any suitablematerials, and may be formed or molded out of a plastic or polymericmaterial (such as a polycarbonate or an ABS or PET material) or thelike. The frame portions may be molded over and around the perimeteredges and perimeter regions of the inner surfaces of the glass panels soas to receive or encompass the perimeter edges and to secure the frameportion at the perimeter edges of the glass panels. For example, theglass panels may be placed in a mold cavity, where the perimeter frameand/or encapsulations are molded over (such as via injection molding orthe like) and around and along the perimeter edge regions of the glasspanels and between the adjacent edge regions of the glass panels toencapsulate the perimeter edges of the glass panels and the periphery ofthe joined glass panels. Optionally, the frame portion may be adhesivelybonded to the perimeter edges of the glass panel and may be bonded atthe inner surface of the glass panel (and optionally may overlap orencompass the outer surface of the glass panel and may be bonded at theinner surface of the glass panel), such as by utilizing aspects of thewindow assemblies described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,853,895 and/or5,551,197, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties.

The window panels may comprise glass window panels, such as transparenttempered glass window panels or the like. Optionally, the window panelsmay comprise a non-glass material, such as a transparent orsubstantially transparent plastic or polymeric or acrylic material orthe like. Optionally, the window panels may be molded and the moldingmay include the ribs and/or frame portions to provide a unitaryconstruction of the window assembly. Although shown and described as asmall fixed side window (having three window panels) for a vehicle,clearly, the window assembly of the present invention may have two orthree or four or more louvered window panels such as described above andmay be suitable for a larger fixed side window and/or a rear window(such as a liftgate window such as for a hatchback vehicle or the like)or a top window, such as a sunroof or moonroof or the like.

Optionally, an opaque coating or frit layer may be established at theperimeter regions of the glass panels to substantially conceal or hidethe portions of the frame and encapsulations or ribs that are disposedat the rear surface of the window panels. Optionally, the frit or paintor ink layer or coating may be disposed or screened onto a surfaces ofthe glass panels after forming the glass panels. In applications wherean opaque or non-transparent frit layer or other pattern or the like maybe disposed at the surface of the glass panels, the adhesive maycomprise a substantially non-transparent adhesive. The opaque layer orfrit layer may comprise a ceramic frit layer and may function tofacilitate adhering or bonding of the perimeter frame (and optionallyany hardware elements or brackets or hinges or the like) to the glasspanels. The frit layer may be substantially opaque, and thus may improvethe overall appearance of the window assembly, since the bondingsurfaces are not readily discernible or viewable through the glasspanels and the frit layer. Examples of such frit layers are described inU.S. Pat. Nos. 5,853,895 and/or 5,551,197, incorporated above. The fritlayer may be disposed onto the surfaces of the glass panels in anydesired pattern, such as stripes, dots, wave pattern or the like, toprovide the desired appearance to the window panels, depending on theparticular application of the window assembly.

Optionally, an opaque or patterned or colored film may be adhered orbonded or established at the surface of one or more of the window panelsof the louvered window assembly to provide the desired opaqueness andappearance to the window assembly. For example, and with reference toFIGS. 7-9, a vehicular window assembly 110 comprises a plurality ofglass window panels 114, 116, 118 that are louvered or non-coplanar,with at least one of the window panels (such as window panel 114 in theillustrated embodiment) having an opaque film 130 established at asurface thereof. The glass window panels 114, 116, 118 are disposed at aperimeter frame or encapsulation 120 and have an encapsulation portionor rib 122 at and between and adjoining panels 114 and 116 and anencapsulation portion or rib 124 at and between and adjoining panels 116and 118. The ribs 122, 124 may be integrally formed or molded with theframe portion 120 to provide an encapsulation that captures orencapsulates the perimeter edges of each of the window panels 114, 116,118, such as in a similar manner as discussed above.

As shown in FIG. 9, the film 130 (such as a colored or tinted ordarkened polyester film or the like) is bonded or adhered at theinterior surface of the window panel 114 via an adhesive layer 132, suchas a pressure sensitive adhesive or the like. Optionally, and desirably,the film is adhered or attached at the window panel surface before theencapsulation 120 is molded over and along the panel edges and betweenthe window panels so as to achieve a frit-like appearance for the windowassembly. The film 130 may comprise any suitable film or layer or sheet,such as an opaque or colored film or such as a patterned film or thelike. Optionally, for example, the film may comprise a PET film or thelike, and/or may comprise, for example, a Black Out-X film commerciallyavailable from Madico, Inc. of Woburn, Mass. Optionally, one of thewindow panels (such as leading panel 114 in the illustrated embodiment)may have the film 130 disposed over substantially its entire surface andone or more of the other window panels may have a film or frit layerestablished about and along their perimeter regions. The film 130provides a frit-like appearance to the film-covered window panel withouthaving to establish a frit layer over the entire surface of the windowpanel.

After the film is adhered or bonded or affixed at the surface of thewindow panel, the window panels (including the film-coated window panel)may be disposed in a molding cavity (or cavities) and the encapsulationmay be molded around and along the perimeter edges of the window panelswith the ribs 122, 124 formed or molded between the respective adjacentwindow panels. As can be seen with reference to FIG. 8, the film 130 andencapsulation 120 are configured or established such that theencapsulation 120 overlaps or overlays at least a portion of the film130 along the perimeter region of the window panel surface so that, toan observer viewing the window panel, the film has the appearance of afrit material or coating that at least substantially covers orencompasses the window panel surface. Optionally, a portion of the filmmay be patterned or may include a logo or icon or text or images or thelike, to provide the desired appearance at the window panel or panels.Optionally, the encapsulation may be overmolded onto the perimeter edgeportions of the glass panels or may otherwise bonded at the perimeteredge portions of the glass panels.

Thus, the present invention provides a louvered window assembly for avehicle. The perimeter frame portion or encapsulation may be establishedalong and around the perimeter edge regions of the glass panels andbetween and adjoining adjacent perimeter edge regions of adjacent glasspanels. Optionally, the encapsulations may be molded over and around theperimeter edge regions of the glass panels or may be bonded along theperimeter edge regions of the glass panels. Optionally, theencapsulations may encompass the perimeter regions of the inner surfacesof the glass panels and the perimeter edges of the glass panels, withthe outer surfaces of the glass panels being exposed. Optionally, thelouvered window panels may partially overlap one another (such as therear perimeter region of the forward window panel overlapping theforward perimeter region of the adjacent middle or rearward windowpanel), with the respective encapsulation disposed between the inner andouter surfaces of the overlapping portions of the window panels, whileremaining within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Theperimeter edge region of the outer overlapping window panel thus mayhave a frameless appearance with the cut or rounded or ground glassperimeter edge of the window panel being substantially or entirelyexposed.

The window panels are arranged in any desired or suitable pattern toprovide the desired or selected appearance of the window assembly andthe vehicle at which it is mounted. For example, the window panels maybe arranged with generally straight (or slightly curved) and generallyparallel adjacent edge portions and joining elements, such as discussedabove. Optionally, the window panels may be formed and arranged (with aportion of at least one panel offset from and/or overlapping a portionof at least one other panel) in any other decorative arrangement orpattern depending on the particular application of the window assemblyand desired appearance for the vehicle. The offset and/or overlappingportions of the panels may be joined via a joining element orencapsulation as described above.

For example, the window assembly may comprise two or more louveredpanels in various angled configurations, such as shown in FIGS. 10-13.The louvered panels may comprise only one outboard panel and one inboardpanel with either a straight joining encapsulation or interface (FIG.13) or an angled or curved or bent joining encapsulation or interface(FIG. 14), where the adjacent edge portions of adjacent window panelsare corresponding formed and the joining element or encapsulation ismolded along the adjacent edge portions to join the window panels.Optionally, the adjacent edge portions may be spaced apart and joined bythe encapsulation, or an adjacent edge portion of an outer window panelmay overlap the adjacent edge portion of an inner window panel,depending on the particular application. For example, the windowassembly may have an outer panel that partially surrounds or partially(or entirely) circumscribes an inner or inset panel, such as shown inFIGS. 15-17. Optionally, other patterns may be provided by a shapedouter panel that is offset and joined to one or more inner panels, suchas, for example, as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19.

The pattern of the offset panels may be selected depending on theparticular application and vehicle design for the vehicle to which thewindow assembly is to be installed. For example, the window panelconfiguration/arrangement may generally correspond to a design featureof the vehicle, such as the front grille of the vehicle or taillightconfiguration/design of the vehicle, so that the window assembly is partof the overall design features or distinguishing characteristics of theparticular vehicle or vehicle manufacturer. Optionally, theencapsulation (that joins the offset panels at the interface regions)may be colored to match a color scheme of the vehicle (such as bymatching or coordinating with the vehicle color or a trim or accentcolor of the vehicle). For example, for a red vehicle, the encapsulationmay be colored red (or include a red strip along the encapsulation) andthe windows may be darkened to provide an enhanced appearance of thewindow assembly and vehicle. Optionally, the window assembly maycomprise a single inboard window panel and a formed or cut or shapedoutboard window panel that is attached at the inboard window panel toprovide the desired appearance or pattern, with two or more exposedsurface portions of the inboard window panel being spaced apart andseparated by a portion of the outboard window panel.

Optionally, aspects of the window assemblies described above (shown fora small side rear window of a vehicle) may be utilized for a rearbacklite or rear window assembly of the vehicle, such as shown in FIGS.20-22. The pattern may generally correspond with or match the pattern ofthe side window assembly (such as shown in FIG. 21) or may be differentfrom the pattern of other windows or vehicle features, depending on theparticular application of the window assembly. Optionally, the moldedjoining element of the window panels of the rear window may be coloredor patterned to enhance the appearance of the window assembly and/or tocoordinate with a color scheme or design pattern or feature of thevehicle to which the window assembly is to be mounted or installed.

Optionally, the offset window panels for the window assembly of thepresent invention may be unitarily molded of a polycarbonate material toprovide the desired appearance of the window assembly. The offsetregions or interface/interfaces between the offset panels may be shapedto provide the desired appearance, and may be colored or patterned (suchas via molding in a color or painting the molded window) depending onthe particular application of the window assembly.

Optionally, the window assembly or assemblies of the present inventionmay utilize aspects of the window assemblies described in U.S. Pat. Nos.8,881,458; 8,402,695; 5,853,895; 5,551,197; 7,073,293; 7,003,916 and/or6,691,464, and/or U.S. Publication Nos. US-2006-0107600;US-2008-0127563; US-2004-0020131 and/or US-2003-0213179, which arehereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Changes and modifications to the specifically described embodiments maybe carried out without departing from the principles of the presentinvention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of theappended claims, as interpreted according to the principles of patentlaw.

1. A method for forming a vehicular window assembly, the methodcomprising: providing a plurality of window panels; arranging the windowpanels relative to one another with adjacent edge portions of adjacentwindow panels being non-coplanar; and fixedly joining the adjacent edgeportions of the adjacent window panels by molding a joining element atthe adjacent edge portions of the adjacent window panels, wherein themolded joining element is at least partially overmolded and fixedlyjoined at the adjacent edge portions of the adjacent window panels. 2.The method of claim 1, wherein the adjacent edge portions are curved. 3.The method of claim 1, wherein the molded joining element at leastpartially circumscribes at least one of the adjacent window panels. 4.The method of claim 1, wherein the adjacent window panels comprise anoutboard window panel and an inboard window panel, and wherein thewindow panels are arranged such that the outboard window panel is offsetoutwardly relative to the inboard window panel at least at the adjacentedge portions.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the molded joiningelement at least partially circumscribes the inboard window panel. 6.The method of claim 4, wherein the adjacent window panels comprise twoinboard window panel portions and one outboard window panel, and whereinouter exposed surfaces of the inboard window panel portions areseparated by a portion of the outboard window panel.
 7. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising molding an encapsulation that at leastpartially receives a perimeter edge portion of at least one of theadjacent window panels.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the windowpanels comprise glass window panels.
 9. The method of claim 1, whereinthe vehicular window assembly comprises a vehicular side windowconfigured to mount at a side portion of a vehicle.
 10. The method ofclaim 9, wherein providing a plurality of window panels comprisesproviding first and second window panels, and wherein arranging thewindow panels relative to one another comprising arranging the firstwindow panel relative to the second window panel with a rear edgeportion of the first window panel being non-coplanar with a front edgeportion of the second window panel, and wherein molding the joiningelement at the adjacent edge portions of the adjacent window panelscomprises molding the joining element at the rear edge portion of thefirst window panel and at the front edge portion of the second windowpanel to fixedly join the rear edge portion of the first window paneland at the front edge portion of the second window panel.
 11. The methodof claim 10, wherein molding the joining element at the rear edgeportion of the first window panel and at the front edge portion of thesecond window panel comprises molding the joining element at leastpartially at the rear edge portion of the first window panel so that themolded joining element does not overlap an outer surface of the firstwindow panel.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein molding the joiningelement at the rear edge portion of the first window panel and at thefront edge portion of the second window panel comprises molding thejoining element at the front edge portion of the second window panel sothat the molded joining element at least partially receives the frontedge portion of the second window panel.
 13. The method of claim 1,wherein each window panel of the plurality of window panels has an outersurface and an inner surface separated by a thickness of the windowpanel, and wherein the window panels are arranged relative to oneanother with the outer surfaces of the adjacent edge portions ofadjacent window panels being non-coplanar.
 14. A method for forming avehicular side window assembly configured to mount at a side portion ofa vehicle, the method comprising: providing a plurality of window panelsat least comprising (i) a forward window panel having a leading edgeportion and a trailing edge portion and (ii) a rearward window panelhaving a leading edge portion and a trailing edge portion; arranging theforward and rearward window panels relative to one another with thetrailing edge portion of the forward window panel being adjacent to andoffset from and non-coplanar with the leading edge portion of therearward window panel; and fixedly joining the adjacent trailing andleading edge portions of the adjacent forward and rearward window panelsvia fixedly attaching a joining element at the adjacent trailing andleading edge portions of the adjacent forward and rearward windowpanels.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the adjacent trailing andleading edge portions are curved.
 16. The method of claim 14, whereinthe joining element at least partially circumscribes at least oneselected from the group consisting of the forward window panel and therearward window panel.
 17. The method of claim 14, further establishinga perimeter frame at least partially along perimeter edge portions ofthe forward and rearward window panels.
 18. The method of claim 17,wherein establishing the perimeter frame comprises fixedly joining theperimeter frame at the perimeter edge portions of the forward andrearward window panels.
 19. The method of claim 14, wherein the windowpanels comprise glass window panels.
 20. The method of claim 14, whereinfixedly attaching the joining element at the trailing edge portion ofthe forward window panel and at the leading edge portion of the rearwardwindow panel comprises fixedly attaching the joining element at leastpartially at the trailing edge portion of the forward window panel sothat the joining element does not overlap an outer surface of theforward window panel.
 21. The method of claim 14, wherein fixedlyattaching the joining element at the trailing edge portion of theforward window panel and at the leading edge portion of the rearwardwindow panel comprises fixedly attaching the joining element at theleading edge portion of the rearward window panel so that the joiningelement at least partially receives the leading edge portion of therearward window panel.
 22. The method of claim 14, wherein providing aplurality of window panels comprises providing a second rearward windowpanel having a leading edge portion and a trailing edge portion, andwherein the method further comprises arranging the second rearwardwindow panel relative to the rearward window panel with the trailingedge portion of the rearward window panel being adjacent to and offsetfrom and non-coplanar with the leading edge portion of the secondrearward window panel, and wherein the method further comprises fixedlyjoining the adjacent trailing and leading edge portions of the adjacentrearward and second rearward window panels via fixedly attaching ajoining element at the adjacent trailing and leading edge portions ofthe adjacent rearward and second rearward window panels.
 23. The methodof claim 14, wherein fixedly attaching the joining element comprisesovermolding the joining element at the adjacent trailing and leadingedge portions of the adjacent forward and rearward window panels. 24.The method of claim 14, wherein each of the forward and rearward windowpanels has an outer surface and an inner surface separated by athickness of the respective window panel, and wherein the forward andrearward window panels are arranged relative to one another with theouter surface of the trailing edge portion of the forward window panelbeing non-coplanar with the leading edge portion of the rearward windowpanel.
 25. A vehicular window assembly, the vehicular window assemblycomprising: first and second window panels arranged adjacent to oneanother; wherein adjacent edge portions of the adjacent first and secondwindow panels are fixedly joined by a joining element, and wherein thejoining element is fixedly attached at each of the respective edgeportions of the adjacent first and second window panels; and wherein,with the adjacent edge portions of the adjacent first and second windowpanels fixedly joined by the joining element, an outer surface of thefirst window panel at the adjacent edge portion of the first windowpanel is non-coplanar with an outer surface of the second window panelat the adjacent edge portion of the second window panel.
 26. Thevehicular window assembly of claim 25, wherein the joining element is atleast partially overmolded at each of the adjacent edge portions of theadjacent first and second window panels.
 27. The vehicular windowassembly of claim 25, wherein the first and second window panelscomprise first and second glass window panels.
 28. The vehicular windowassembly of claim 25, wherein the joining element comprises a frameportion that is fixedly joined at a perimeter edge portion of at leastone selected from the group consisting of the first window panel and thesecond window panel.
 29. The vehicular window assembly of claim 25,wherein the vehicular window assembly comprises a side vehicular windowassembly configured to mount at a side portion of a vehicle, andwherein, with the side vehicular window assembly mounted at the sideportion of the vehicle, the second window panel is disposed rearward ofthe first window panel.
 30. The vehicular window assembly of claim 29,wherein the joining element at least partially receives a rear perimeteredge portion of the first window panel and does not overlap an outersurface of the first window panel, and wherein the joining element atleast partially receives a front perimeter edge portion of the secondwindow panel.
 31. The vehicular window assembly of claim 30, wherein anouter surface of the first window panel at or near the rear perimeteredge portion of the first window panel is non-coplanar with an outersurface of the second window panel at or near the front perimeter edgeportion of the second window panel.
 32. The vehicular window assembly ofclaim 31, comprising a third window panel adjacent and rearward of thesecond window panel, and wherein a second joining element at leastpartially receives a rear perimeter edge portion of the second windowpanel and does not overlap an outer surface of the second window panel,and wherein the second joining element at least partially receives afront perimeter edge portion of the third window panel, and wherein anouter surface of the third window panel at or near the front perimeteredge portion of the third window panel is non-coplanar with an outersurface of the second window panel at or near the rear perimeter edgeportion of the second window panel.
 33. The vehicular window assembly ofclaim 32, comprising a perimeter frame portion that is established atleast partially about a periphery of the first, second and third windowpanels.